The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-28
AHNH HNsw~7e Medal Paris, 1878.
ExkhENSA - The FaVonte Numbers 303 404, co.,
Sol, Ito, his
- &EG E0EMSe Sold throughout the Worldly
REBEL OR LOYALIsr?
Addressed by an Ex-COnfederate Soldier tC
the Grand Army of the Republic.

Addressed by an Ex-COnfederate Soldier to
the Grand Army of the Republic.
Maurice Thompson in the American Magazine
was rebel if you please,
A reckless fighter 10 the last;
Nor DO fall upon my knees
And beg forgiveness for the past.
A traitor? q traitor? Mo-
was q patriot to the core:
The South was mine: loved her So
Igave her ALL could no more.
You scowl at me. And was it wrong
To wear the gray my father wore?
Could stink back, though young and strong,
From foes before my mothers door?
Ny mothers kiss was hot with fight;
My fathers fIenzy filed his son;
Through reeking day and sodden night
MY sister s courage urged me on.
And l. missile STEPPED in hate,
Hurled forward like cannon-bau
By the reS1stless hand of fate,
Rushed wildly, madly through it all.
stemmed the level flames of hell:
Ger bayonet-bars of death broke;
was so near when Cleburne fell
heard the muffl ed bullet-stroke!
But all in vain. With dull despair
saw the storm of conflict die;
Low lay the southern banner fair,
And yonder flag was waving high
God, what triumph had the foe
Laurel, and arch, and trumpet blare:
All round the earth their songs did go;
laundering through heaven their shouts did
tear.
Ny mother, gray and bent with years,
HogTdinR loves wltheIed aftermath,
Her sweet eyes burnt too dry for tears
Sat in the dust of Sherman's path.
My father, broken, helpless. poor,
A gloomy, nsrveless giant stood,
Too strong to cover and endure,
Too weak to fight for masterhood.
Ny boyhood's home, a blackened heap
Where lizards crawled and briars grew,
Had felt the fire OF vengeance creep,
The crashing round-shot hurtle through.
had no country; all was lost;
closed my eyes and longed TO die,
While past me stslked the awful ghost
OF mangled, murdered liberty.
The scars upon my body burned;
lfelt q heel upon my throat,
4 heel that ground, and grinding turned
With each triumphant trumpet note.
"Grlnd on!" Icried, "nor doubt that l.
If all your necks were one and low
AS mine is now-delightedly
Would cut II by single blow"
That was dark night; but day is here,
The crowniDg victory is won;
HaTk, how the sixty millions career.
With freedoms flag across the sun.
Am a traltort Who are you
That dare to breath that word 70 me?
| You never wore the union blue;
| No wounds affirm your Loyalty
| / do detest the suffers clerk,
Who skulked and lodged till peace had come,
| Then found il most congenial work
| To beat the politicians drum.
| clasp the hands that made my scars;
| cheer the flag my foemen bore;
| J shout for joy to see the stars
| All on our common shield once more.
| do not cringe before you now,
| Or lay my face upon the ground;
| am a man, of men peer,
And not covering, cudgeled hound.
| stand and say that you were right;
| greet you with uncovered head,
| Remembering many thunderous fight,
Where Whiktling death between us sped.
| Remembering those dead boys in gray,
With thoughts too deep and fine for words,
| lift this cup of love to-day,
And drink what only love affords.
Soldiers in blue, a health to youl
Long life and vigor of renewed,
| While on your hearts, like honey dew,
Falls our great country's gratitude!